Way to Russia Talk Lounge

nielsselling · Just Starting Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

Hi!
I read on your visa support section that it's quite sticky to get russian tourist visas in Sweden; apparently you need to present a confirmation that your hotel stay was fully paid, present originals of all documents etc. Since me and my family (a total number of five) plan to visit Moscow in June and prefer to stay in an apartment, the question is: if a book an apartment through http://waytorussia.net/Services/Accommodation.html, will you be able to support us with the neccessary confirmations etc, or will the Swedish consultates only accept hotel stays?
Best regards, Niels

Bartik · Just Starting Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

I have a very similar question. I am a Dutch citizen, and would like to visit my friend in Moscow. Since I can stay at her apartment, I don't want to book a hotel for my whole stay. This website says that I don't need a hotel reservation to get a Russian visa, but on the website of the Russian embassy in the Netherlands, I see that I need to provide them with a payment confirmation of my hotel for the whole stay (similar to the embassy in Sweden).

Is it still possible to get my visa without booking a hotel? Does anybody have experiences using the services of this website in the Netherlands?

Any feedback is welcome!

mencius · Just Starting Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

I live in Malmoe, Sweden and I wonder about the same thing. But I think it is possible to aquire the the Visa in Copenhagen, Denmark, as they might not be so tight-assed.

Mikey · Just Starting Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Guys I'm on the same boat! I'm a U.S. citizen and I'm in Sweden now on a student residence permit. I read somewhere that one can only apply for a tourist visa either in the country of citizenship or the country where one has a residence permit. Since I don't plan to go back to the U.S. to apply for a visa, my only option now is apply for it in Sweden. But I'm also planning to rent an apartment instead of hotels and I don't know if that would be a problem with the Russian Embassy in Sweden. Has anyone tried it? Please I'd really appreciate it if someone asnwers! Razz

WayToRussia · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject:

Hello, I'm trying to find out if there's a solution.

Now, the thing that service providers will be able to give you if you book an apartment, is the apartment confirmation. The consulate will want a hotel confirmation, so it wouldn't work.

However, we're checking now if the situation is still the same over there, and maybe if they will accept anything else to issue the visa.

Worst case-scenario – I'd simply go to Finland or Estonia and get the visa there. If you have a residence permit valid for any Schengen country (of which Sweden is a part), then you can legally reside up to 3 months in any other Schengen country (Finland, Estonia and many other countries in Europe). So I think Russian consulate will count it as a residence permit and will issue you a visa.

Mikey · Just Starting Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks Admin, I think I'll try my luck in the neighboring countries then!

turnip · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:27 am Post subject:

Hi, is there any progress on this? I'm from the UK but living in Sweden and planning on a trip to Russia at the end of July, staying with a friend. Can invitations showing a fully paid hotel be issued, even if I don't plan on staying (or paying) there, or will I have to do a bit of country hopping?